Transfer device for tube and rod chucks



March 30, 1948. B. F. BOWER TRANSFER DEVICE FOR TUBE AND ROD CHUCKSFiled Feb. 25, 1945 4 Sheets-Slieet l [RUfi @rorz ffiozuer zw I a March30, 1948. B. F. BOWER TRANSFER DEVICE FOR TUBE AND 'ROD CHUCKS FiledFeb. 25, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet g mv. Q mi Q \Q Q \Nv 1M. 9 1 llllDa A 3 uu -1 1 .u 1 m E [hr/ch57 Qyron Ffiower MW" 5%.

March 30, 1948. B. F. BOWER TRANSFER DEVICE FOR TUBE AND ROD CHUCKSFiled Feb. 23,, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 30, 1948. B. F. BOWER"TRANSFER DEVICE .FOR TUBE AND ROD CHUCKS Filed Feb. 23, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4J72 2/6755?" aw-071' mower IIt'll!!!-villllllfllllllllfllll PatentedMar. 3.0, 1948 TRANSFER DEVICE FOR TUBE AND ROD CHUCKS Byron F. Bower,Aurora, 111., assignor to Pines Engineering Company, Aurora, 111.

Application February 23, 1945, Serial No. 579,449

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to work holding devices particularlyadapted to hold rods, tubes and the like in position so that one or moretools can be engaged with the work while it is held. It is the principalpurpose of this invention to provide a novel combination whereby workbeing fed to the chucks is held against one jaw of the chuck while thatjaw advances the work into engagement with the other jaw. Thisconstruction withholds the transfer finger long enough to allow the workto drop in place in the chuck jaw.

It is also the purpose of my invention to provide a work holder whereina moveable chuck jaw serves as a support for the articles to be fed tothe chuck until that jaw is retracted and a transfer device acts toclamp the work to the moveable jaw when it is retracted, the transferdevice being operated also to kick the work out of the other chuck jaw.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings wherein apreferred form of the invention is discussed. It should be understood,however, that the drawings and description are illustrative only and arenot to be taken as limiting the invention except insofar as it islimited by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a work holding device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the work holding device, certainparts being shown in section and other parts being broken away toillustrate details of construction that would otherwise be hidden; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a slightly modifiedform of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a side view partly in section showing a modification of thecontrol means for the work holding device.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is embodied. in awork holding device which is adapted to receive and hold pieces of rods,tubing and the like while they are subjected to work operations by oneor more tools. The tools for example, may be reaming tools, champferingtools and the like. The machine embodies a supporting base 5 (see Figure2) on which a main Work holding bed 6 is mounted. The work holding bedis desirably a casting having a raised head 1 recessed to receive astationary chuck jaw 8. The bed has a platform 9 slidably receiving aremovable chuck jaw it. The casting is also formed with a head I l forone end of a. pylinder l2. The casting 6 is formed with a transversablyrunning angularly disposed trough i3 into which the articles aredischarged from the chuck jaws.

The platform 9 serves as a mounting base for a construction thatprovides a work receiving trough. This construction includes twoupstanding side pieces l4 and M (see Figure l). The pieces l4 and iiiare bolted to the platform 9. The piece I4 has a plate l6 welded theretoand extending inwardly at right angles thereto. The iece l5 has a plateI1 welded thereto and extending inwardly at right angles thereto. Theplates I6 and I? extend downwardly only, to the level of the top of thechuck jaw H]. Angle irons I8 and H) are connected with the platform 9.Their flanges 20 and 2| provide sloping supports along which work pieces22 can be directed down onto the top surface of the chuck jaw Ill andheld there while the jaw is in the position shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings.

The chuck jaw i0 is removably connected to a head 23 on a piston rod 24which extends through the head ll into the cylinder it where it isprovided with a piston 25. Suitable connections, one of whichis shown at26 are used to supply fluid to the cylinder I2 to advance and retractthe piston rod and the chuck jaw I0. It will be noted from Figure 3 thatwhen the chuck jaw i0 is retracted the work pieces 22 can feed down ontothe platform 9 in advance of the chuck jaw Ill. The plates IS and I!terminate above the chuck jaw so that a work piece can advance with thechuck jaw l0 into engagement with jaw 8.

My invention concerns itself primarily with the means of controlling thework piece from the time thechuck jaw ill is retracted far enough toenable the work piece to drop in front of it until the chuck jaws areclosed on the work. The casting 6 has a bracket 21 fixed to the face ofthe jaw support 1 and extending outwardly to provide a mounting head 28for a cylinder 2s. The cylinder 29 has a piston 39 therein and a rod 3!extends through the head 28 and forwardly through the support 1 andthrough a central opening 32 in the jaw 8. This rod 3! constitutes atransfer finger and a knockout finger by which the work pieces 22 can beheld against the jaw Hi as it advances, and then knocked out of the jaw8, after the operations have been performed thereon. Any fluid pressurecan be used to operate the piston 30. For example, a connection notshown, to a source of air under pressure may be made for the cylinder29.

In order to control the operation of the rod 3!, I provide a collar 33.This collar is adjustable on the rod by means of a set screw 34. A pawl35 is fixed on a shaft 36 which extends through the bracket 21 and isrotatable therein. The pawl has an end face 3! to engage the collar 33.-There is a stop 38 on the bracket 21 to limit the upward movement of thepawl 35, the collar 33 being cut away so that it can pass the stop 38-When the pawl 35 is pulled down as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The shaft 35 is connected by a depending lever arm 39 to a cross head 40on an end of a trip rod 4|. The trip rod 4| has its other end journaledin a bracket 42 on the casting 6 so that the trip rod can slide endwisefar enough to move the pawl between the two positions shown in Figures 2and 3. A collar 43 is fastened on the trip rod. The collar is connectedby a spring 44 toa pin 45 on: the casting 3' so that the spring 44 tendsto pull the trip rod 4| to the left as shown in Figure 2 and thus holdthe pawl 35 against the stop 38. The trip rod has a platejfi. weldedthereto. This plate is provided with a lug 43 that extends inwardly intothe path of the head 23 that supports the chuck jaw III.

In order that the device may be fully understood, the detailed operationwill now be described. Assuming that the parts are in position as shownin Figures 1 and 2, and the work piece is finished, fluid will be letinto the cylinder l2 through theconnection 26 to retract the jaw Hi.There is continuous pressure applied to the piston 33. and the cylinder29 so that initially as the jaw m. is retracted, the rod 3| advances toknock the work piece outof the jaw 8. This advance is very short beingonly the distance between the collar 33 and the face 31 of the pawl 35-as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. After the collar 33 engages thepawl 35, the rod'3l remains stationary while the jaw It moves backalmost to the position shown in Figure 3, then the head 23 engages thetrip lug 4T and starts to move the trip rod 4| in a direction to releasethe pawl 35 from the collar 33 as a new work piece 22 falls intoposition in front of the jaw Hi. In this critical interval the trip rod41 causes the pawl to release the rod 3| and the rod 3| shoots forwarduntil the collar 33 reaches the position shown, in Figure 3. The rod 3|is advanced soon enough to prevent the work piece from rolling out ofthe trough. When the fluid is reversed in the cylinder l2 to againadvance the piston 25, the jaw H) is again advanced to engage theworkpiece and the rod 3| is pushed back by the jaw In while the work pieceis carried forward. The pressure of the rod 3| against the work piece isadequate to hold the work in position during this transfer period. Ofcourse, as soon as the collar 33 has moved far enough back, the trip rod4| sets the pawl 35 into position as shown in Figure 2;

The construction shown in Figure 4 is essentially the same as that shownin Figures .1, 2

and 3 with the exception that the transfer finger is advanced by aspring 48. The transferfinger comprises a rod 49 which extendsthrough'th e support "I and the jaw 8. This rod 49 has a collar 50thereon which serves both as a stop for the pawl 35 and as a stop forone end of the spring 48.. A bracket is mounted on thecasting 3 andextends away from the casting a substantial distance where it isprovided with a bearing 50afor the rod 49. The bearing also serves as astop for the spring 48. The spring is under compression sufficient toadvance the rod in the same manner that the rod 3| is advanced.

The foregoing description is believed to show that the rod. 3|constitutes a transfer finger by which work is held against theadvancing jaw ID from the time it reaches the discharged position fromthe feed trough until the work is engaged in the opposite jaw 8. It isnot essential that the jaw 8 be stationary, although it is so shown.

The transfer finger performs the additional function of forcing the workout of the jaw 8 in case there is a tendency for it to stick.

' In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5 of the drawings thetransfer finger 3| is controlled in itsmovements by the actuation of anelectrical device rather than by the mechanical trip means of the mainform. In the modified device a limit switch 5| on the moveable jaw I0controls the energizing of a solenoid 52 which in turn operates a valve53 to control the supply of fluid under pressure to the cylinder 23- Twostops 54 and 55 serve to snap the switch from closed to open circuitposition and back again 7 as the jaw It is retracted and advanced. The

arrangement is such that, when the. switch 5| approaches the stop 54 thejaw H3 is clearing the chute i3 to allow'a piece of tubing to' drop intoposition to be advanced. When the switch 5| is actuated by the stop 54it energizes the solenoid 52 which causes the valve 53 to connect asupply pipe 55 to the cylinder 29". This advances the transfer finger 3|tothe position shown in Figure 5. Now as the jaw l5 moves to advance apiece of tubing the finger 3!" holds the tubing in the jaw It! and ispushed back against the pressure of the fiuid in the cylinder 29. Whenthe limit switch reaches the stop'55 it is opened to deenergize thesolenoid 52 and the valve 53 is moved by a spring 5'! to position to outoff the supply pipe 55 from the cylinder 29 and to connect a drain pipe58 to the cylinder.

When the jaw I3 is withdrawn the switch 5| remains open so the valve53'remains closed and the transfer finger 3| remains stationary in retracted position until the limit switch reaches the At this time theswitch is closed and the transfer finger is advanced. If the tubingsticks in the stationary die the finger will knock it out and move oninto position to hold thenext piece of tubing against the advancing jawIt.

For some purposes thechute i3 is not desir able. It is preferable tojust let thepieces drop into the machine base. The modified form of theinvention shown in Figure 5 is provided with an opening at 59 instead ofthe chute l3.

Having thus described my invention, *1 claim: 1. A chucking deviceincluding two jaws adapted to clamp articles such as tubes, rods, etc.therebetween, means adjacent one of said jaws for directing articles tothe device, the jaw being moveable between a retracted position, wherethe work may be placed in front of it, and advanced position, where itcooperates with, the

other jaw to clamp the article, a transfer finger moveable along thepath of movement of said jaw between a position holding the article insaid jaw as the jaw starts to advance the article and a retractedposition where the article held by it. is confined between both jaws,means to advance and retract said first named jaw, means urging saidtransfer finger toward its first named position, a latch holding saidfinger in retracted position and trip means operable to release thelatch at about the time the first named jaw arrives at retractedposition whereby to cause the finger to advance and hold an article inthe jaw.

2. A chucking device including two jaws adapted to clamp articles suchas tubes, rods, etc. therebetween, means adjacent one of said jaws fordirecting articles to the device, the jaw being moveable between aretracted position, where the work may be placed in front of it, andadvanced position, where it cooperates with the other jaw to clamp thearticle, a transfer finger moveable along the path of movement of saidjaw between a position holding the article in said jaw as the jaw startsto advance the article and a retracted position where the article heldby it is confined between both jaws, means to advance and retract saidfirst named jaw, means urging said transfer finger toward its firstnamed position, a latch holding said finger in retracted position andtrip means operable to release the latch at about the time the firstnamed jaw arrives at retracted position whereby to cause the finger toadvance and hold an article in the jaw, said article directing meanscomprising a chute and said first named jaw being moveable across thebottom of said chute.

3. A chucking device including two jaws adapted to clamp articles suchas tubes, rods, etc. therebetween means adjacent one of said jaws fordirecting articles to the device, the jaw being movable between aretracted position, where the work may be placed in front of it, andadvanced position, where it cooperates with the other jaw to clamp thearticle, a transfer finger moveable along the path of movement of saidjaw between a position holdin the article in said jaw as the Jaw startsto advance the article and a retracted position where the article heldby it is confined between both jaws, means to advance and retract saidfirst named jaw, means urging said transfer finger toward its firstnamed position, a latch holding said finger in retracted position andtrip means operable to release the latch at about the time the firstnamed jaw arrives at retracted position whereby to cause the finger toadvance and hold an article in the jaw, said transfer finger extendingthrough the said other jaw, and said latch being positioned to hold theend of the finger in a position outwardly of the adjacent articleengaging surface of said other jaw whereby the article is pressed awayfrom said other jaw as the jaws separate.

4, A chucking device including two jaws adapted to clamp articles suchas tubes, rods, etc. therebetween, means adjacent to one jaw fordirecting articles to the device, the jaw being movable between aretracted position where the work may be placed in front of it, andadvanced position where it cooperates with the other jaw to clamp thearticle, a transfer finger movable along the path of movement of saidfirst named jaw between a position holding the article in said jaw asthe jaw starts to advance the article and a retracted position where thearticle held by it is confined between both jaws, means to advance and eretract said first named jaw, means to advance said transfer finger toits first named position,

means rendering said finger advancing means inoperative to advance thefinger while the first named jaw is moving to retracted position andrelease means operable upon final movement of the first named jaw toretracted position, to again make the finger advancing means operativeto advance the finger and hold an article in the jaw.

5. A chucking device including two jaws adapted to clamp articles suchas tubes, rods, etc. therebetween, a chute above one jaw for directingarticles to the device, the jaw being movable between a retractedposition, where the work may be placed in front of it, and advancedposition,

where it cooperates with the other jaw to clamp the article, andprovides an article support under the chute, a transfer finger movablealong the path of movement of said first named jaw between a positionholding the article in said jaw as the jaw starts to advance the articleand a retracted position where the article held by it is confinedbetween both jaws, means to advance and retract said first named jaw,means to advance said transfer finger to its first named position, meansrendering said finger advancing means inoperative to advance the fingerwhile the first named jaw is moving to retracted position and releasemeans operable upon final movement of the first named jaw to retractedposition, to again make the finger advancing means operative to advancethe finger and. hold an article in the jaw.

6. A chucking device including two jaws adapted to clamp articles suchas tubes, rods, etc., therebetween, means adjacent to one jaw fordirecting articles to the device, the jaw being movable between aretracted position where the work may be placed in front of it, andadvanced position where it cooperates with the other jaw to clamp thearticle, a transfer finger extending through the other jaw and movablealong the path of movement of said first named jaw between a positionholding the article in said jaw as the jaw starts to advance the articleand a retracted position where the article held by it is confinedbetween both jaws, means to advance and retract said first named jaw,means to advance said transfer finger to its first named position, meansrendering said finger advancing means inoperatiVe to advance the fingerwhile the first named jaw is moving to retracted position, and releasemeans operable upon final movement of the first named jaw to retractedposition, to again make the finger advancing means operative to advanceth finger and hold an article in the jaw.

BYRON F. BOWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 379,307 Codling Mar. 13, 1888579,357 Brown, Jr Mar, 23, 1897 1,252,929 Muller Jan, 8, 1918 1,581,022Saylor Apr. 13, 1926 2,298,366 Gladfelter et al. Oct. 13, 1942 2,349,168Hill May 16, 1944

